adjective

buff

Having a muscular, well-toned body.

The athlete looks buff after months of training.

Etymology

Buff has older connections with skin and bare flesh, especially in the phrase in the buff. The muscular sense is a later slang development describing the appearance of a fit body.

More examples

  • His arms had become noticeably buff.
  • She played a buff action hero.
  • The advertisement featured a buff swimmer.

Forms

buff · buffer · buffest

Similar words

muscular
Muscular is the direct descriptive term.
toned
Toned need not imply large muscles.